A Baldur’s Gate 3 player has figured out how to one-shot the final boss of Act 2 using nothing more complex than a large pile of gold, a special weapon, and a bit of reverse-thievery.
Reddit’s u/GoldenThane shared their strategy on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit yesterday. Their post does contain spoilers, so first we’ll give you a spoiler-free explanation of what they did. Basically, GoldenThane used a weapon called Twist of Fortune that’s available elsewhere in Act 2.
The morning star has, among other abilities, a Weapon Action called Blood Money that deals an extra 3 piercing damage per 300 gold that the target possesses. So to one-shot the boss, they “reverse pickpocketed” them before the fight to dump 15,000 gold into their pockets, then bapped them with Blood Money and called it a day.
Warning: We go into even more detail below the video, including spoilers for the end of Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3. Read on at your own risk!
Specifically, GoldenThane used this ability on what appears to be the second phase of the Ketheric Thorm fight at the end of Act 2. Because the fight includes multiple phases, they had to reverse pickpocket Thorm before it started, then used the Blood Money ability on the second phase, when Thorm becomes an Apostle of Myrkul. Fifteen-thousand gold divided by 300 is 50 ticks of Blood Money, which adds up to 150 bonus damage on top of the base damage of the attack.
That alone would only get GoldenThane up to 167 of the boss’ 225 total HP, but based on comments elsewhere in the thread it looks like GoldenThane had a number of other effects proc, including a bunch of hits of an Illithid power called “Cull the Weak” and possibly other abilities.
The mace in question, Twist of Fortune, is conveniently available right before this section of the game via Gerringothe Thorm, who you can kill or pickpocket or otherwise creatively dispose of to collect this special weapon.
Notably, this strategy seems to be scalable up to even higher health pools. Elsewhere in the thread, users were debating whether this would work on the first fight against Thorm earlier in the chapter, when he’s meant to be unkillable. A stack of 50k gold does the trick to get him to 0 health in this situation, according to u/srsbsnsman, but the game doesn’t let him die – he just sits around with 0 HP and continues to act, effectively softlocking the game. So…maybe do that specific battle as intended.
GoldenThane also detailed another reverse pickpocketing strategy in another thread (warning: spoilers for Act 3 if you click through) that effectively involves dropping a cursed corpse into the inventory of a major Act 3 foe. This strategy is a bit more involved, but pretty funny if you can pull it off, and lets you cheese your way through an extremely difficult fight.
Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian has issued an official ‘Looking to the Future’ blog post that outlines a raft of changes coming to the game with the imminent Patch 2, including an update to the ending for everyone’s favourite Tiefling Barbarian.
In the blog post, Larian said Patch 2 adds “better closure” to the story’s final act in the form of a more fleshed-out ending for Karlach, something “many of you have been asking for”.
Karlach is one of the most-popular companions and romance options in Baldur’s Gate 3 (check out IGN’s Karlach Companion Guide for more). But some players expressed dissatisfaction with her ending.
Brief Baldur’s Gate 3 Karlach spoilers ahead.
Karlach is slowly dying from an infernal engine, which is housed in her chest. At the end of the game, she can either return to the hellish realm of Avernus to prevent her from burning to a crisp, turn into a Mind Flayer, or give up the ghost entirely and die. In either case, Karlach is pretty hard done by.
Patch 2 adds a new optional ending with Karlach, Larian said. “It’s fiery, poignant, and gives her the ending she deserves”.
In an interview with IGN in which Larian boss Swen Vincke discussed the restoration of access to Minthara’s content, he also teased this new Karlach epilogue, saying that if you see a cigar you’ll know that you’ve found the new content, and that it will “make a lot of people happy”.
In the same blog post, Larian promised improved performance after criticism of Act 3 in particular. “The city of Baldur’s Gate itself is ambitious,” Larian said. “Technically, narratively, and in scope. One of the biggest issues with creating games is that technology is always trying to keep up with your ambition, and here we’ve been hit pretty hard by some setbacks.
“We know that Act 3’s performance isn’t as good as the first two acts, but the good news is that Patch 2 is bringing major performance improvements to the entire game, but more specifically to Act 3 where you’ll feel it the most. We’ll also be working throughout September to improve performance in Act 3 further with new technology that’s been taking a bit longer to release than we expected.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 on September 6, with the Xbox Series X|S version due out later this year. You can find our list of the most rewarding romances in Baldur’s Gate 3 right here.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
One of the most memorable scenes from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation is the Fellowship’s brutal journey through the abandoned, once great Dwarven city of Moria.
From Gandalf’s puzzle-solve to open the West Gate to the Fellowship’s dramatic battle against a cave troll in Balin’s Tomb, from Gandalf’s dramatic last stand against the Balrog to the Fellowship’s last-ditch escape through the East Gate, Moria has cemented itself in the hearts and minds of Tolkien fans the world over as an iconic location within Middle-earth.
Upcoming crafting and survival game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, which is set in the Fourth Age (70 years after the destruction of the ring), revolves around the dwarves themselves and their bid to reclaim their lost home following a call to arms by Gimli himself.
The game’s version of Moria is enormous, and includes all the landmarks you’d expect and where you’d expect them to be. Procedurally-generated environments fill in the spaces between the likes of the Endless Stair, the Crossroads, the Chamber of Mazarbul, and Durin’s Bridge, allowing for the sheer scale suggested by the books and films to be realised in video game form.
Speaking to IGN in an interview at gamescom 2023, Free Range Games game director Jon-Paul Dumont said internal testing had timed a Fellowship run at over two hours of real time, depending on how things go with those pesky orcs, and how well equipped the player — or players — are.
When you start Return to Moria, you can’t simply walk from the Doors of Durin (West Gate) to the Dimrill Gate (East Gate). A mysterious force blocks the dwarves’ progress. As you play through the story, you learn the nature of this force and how to counteract it, unlocking the ability to break through these progression blockers.
Once you’ve done that, Return to Moria turns into a sandbox, letting the dwarves go anywhere. It’s at this point that the player can decide to run back to the beginning of the game, which takes place at the Doors of Durin and attempt a Fellowship Moria run.
Just like in The Lord of the Rings, in Return to Moria orcs are a constant threat, and are attracted to sound. So any run may be slowed by orc attacks, forcing the player to stand and fight or flee. There’s also the nature of the procedural generation, which adds variance to each playthrough. And the crafting and survival mechanics upon which the game is based means you need to manage your progress carefully.
Dumont teased the possibility of adding a ‘Fellowship Mode’ to Return to Moria, which would challenge players to recreate the journey specifically. As it is, recreating the Fellowship’s adventure in Moria acts as a sort of historical tour. You’ll see where Gandalf was, for example. But to get out you’ll need to rebuild Durin’s Bridge, which Gandalf so spectacularly destroyed in his bid to hold off the Balrog.
Internal tests show around two hours to travel from one gate to the other, but that’s only if “you’ve beaten everything and you’re super powerful and you can just walk”, Dumont said. It will take the majority of players longer.
Return to Moria players will no doubt gather together to try the Fellowship run soon after the game comes out on October 24. Eight-player co-op is possible on PC from launch, while on PlayStation 5 it’s four-player.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Konami has announced that it is delaying Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. However, Konami didn’t specify a new release date.
In a statement on its website, Konami said, “Regarding the planned release of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, we have reached the conclusion that despite the very best efforts of our dedicated development staff to release the Remasters in 2023, additional time is needed to ensure the quality performance and gameplay experience our users deserve.”
Konami didn’t actually provide a new release date, just that the development team needs more time to work on the game. Konami also didn’t explicitly state that the remaster was delayed to 2024, but its phrasing heavily implies that it will most likely not be coming out this year anymore.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars was first announced in 2022 and set for a 2023 release. At Tokyo Game Show last year, Konami confirmed that it would fix the original’s flawed localization, as well as add modern features such as enhanced graphics and quality of life options like being able to speed up battles.
The game will launch for PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
A spiritual successor to the Suikoden series, Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes, is being developed by former Konami employees at Rabbit & Bear Studios. It was also recently announced that the game was being delayed to Q2 2024.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He’s been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.
When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey
Baldur’s Gate 3’s next big patch is releasing soon, and by all accounts it will be a chonky one, featuring a host of performance improvements and other fixes. Even better, Patch 2 will apparently address Minthara, who has been hobbled by what director Swen Vincke describes as a “very, very stupid bug.”
Speaking with IGN ahead of Patch 2’s release, Vincke talked about how the scope of Baldur’s Gate 3 can cause cascading reactions that can sometimes lock out content by accident. Such is the case with Baldur’s Gate 3’s drow murderess.
“The game is super reactive and there were a couple of bugs that caused some of the companions to not react as they should. And so that felt like the content was not showing up. So you weren’t seeing it specifically with Minthara,” Vincke explained. “So [lead writer Adam Smith] told me there’s about 1500 lines of Minthara that weren’t showing up as a result of a very, very stupid bug that we now isolated. So we’re solving it.”
Vincke said that the Minthara lines “worked” in previous versions, but that “something else caused them to not work anymore.” Such is the challenge of making a complicated, interlocking RPG filled with thousands of tiny interactions.
‘We’ll see if we can do something extra for her’
Talking about the team’s overall vision off for Minthara, Vincke says she went through “a few iterations.” One key distinction is that she’s not an origin character, meaning you can’t play her from the start. In essence, she’s what Vincke describes as a “sidekick.”
“She’s there to actually serve another character that you meet later on in the game, one of the antagonists,” he says. “So, she was supposed to bring a different light on that antagonist in there.”
He continues, “It doesn’t help that some of her lines are not triggering. So that doesn’t do her justice. But she never had a real actual quest — an origin quest… what you have for some of the others inside of act 3.. So people that were looking for that, it’s just not there.”
“There was a variation that they discovered of Minthara that we removed because it became too complicated. Then we didn’t have the real estate across the game anymore to tell that story. So, they found some fragments of it. But I mean, every single companion that you’ve been playing has gone through those multiple iterations. So, it’s not that it’s something like we massively cut something there. It’s just that Minthara also serves the power fantasy of going for evil.”
[W]e’ll first fix what her problem is that blocks her content, and then we’ll see how she’s going to land with the fence, and then we’ll see if we can do something extra with her
Still, Larian Studios are leaving the door open for more development in the future.
“[W]e’ll first fix what her problem is that blocks her content, and then we’ll see how she’s going to land with the fans, and then we’ll see if we can do something extra with her. I mean, the feedback to the game has been phenomenal and overwhelming for us. So, it’s definitely much more than we expected. So, we’re taking it all in, and then we’re…filtering through it. And so we’ll see where it goes,” Vincke says
“We made this game for the players, for them to enjoy it. If there’s things that don’t really land, I think you can be rest assured that we’ll probably do something about it at some point, except that we can’t do miracles. We’re still a limited team with a limited amount of people that have been working very, very hard on making this.”
In addition to restoring access to Minthara’s content, Vincke says fans can expect a new epilogue for fan-favorite Karlach (he cryptically hints that if you see a cigar you’ll know that you’ve found the new content), and that it will “make a lot of people happy.” It will also include improvements to co-op as well as a “number of other things people have been asking about.”
A Baldur’s Gate 3 player has just shared their detailed notes from a playthrough of the game in which they tried to get the absolute worst story outcomes for every single character. All except for Scratch the dog.
In a Reddit thread, u/Sparkism provided a detailed guide to ruining the day of every single Baldur’s Gate 3 character systematically through all three acts. Surprisingly, this is more complex than it seems: while it may feel like the easiest way to do this is to just murder everyone, some characters actually have a better time if certain other characters are dead, so they had to get creative to make things as abysmal for everyone as possible.
Warning: Light spoilers for act one of Baldur’s Gate 3 are detailed below. Read on at your own risk!
For instance, Sparkism’s guide recommends saving Oskar from the Zhentarim in their hideout. Him being alive plays an important role later in the game, as it makes another character miserable who would otherwise be happy if he never comes home. Similarly, while players are advised to kill Karlach and Gale early on (or, by inaction, let them die), Astarion, Wyll, and Lae’zel need to be recruited to cause further misery down the line.
Other interactions are a little more obvious, though. Sparkism recommends smashing the bard Alfira’s lute, saving the Tiefling from the Bugbear assassin only to throw her off a cliff, and camping outside the burning inn while everyone roasts to death inside. It’s a pretty grim playthrough!
We don’t want to spoil anything farther in than that for those who are still working their way through the game, but suffice to say, Sparkism’s playthrough really does leave everyone completely unhappy. Many characters are dead after suffering their worst nightmares, while those left alive are stuck cursed, miserable, and mourning various losses.
Scratch and the Owlbear cub are fine, though
Notably, the guide has players recruit both Scratch the dog and the Owlbear cub, and then mercifully spares them from any harm the rest of the run. After all, neither of them did anything wrong ever. Everyone else in the game, though, has sinned at least once and deserves retribution.
Sparkism’s run is a glorious example of the level of player freedom available in Baldur’s Gate 3, and it sounds like even more may be on the way. A major patch is planned for later this week that Larian says will fix performance issues as well as add in some previously unavailable content for certain characters’ epilogues. This is all satisfiying since players have been complaining that characters such as Minthara and Karlach have unsatisfying late-game stories.
The vibrant world of Cyberpunk is returning to the tabletop once again. Based on the future-noir setting of the Cyberpunk Red RPG from R. Talsorian Games, Combat Zone from publisher Monster Fight Club is a skirmish affair that has players fielding gangs of a half dozen or so figures. Set roughly 30 years prior to the video game, factions battle it out in an urban warzone looking to claim a slice of concrete as their own.
This boxed starter set comes with everything two players need to play. The miniatures are made of an in-house developed resin/plastic hybrid, capturing a strong amount of detail while requiring only a small amount of assembly.
In addition to the expected dice, rules, and tokens, this set includes the best terrain of any miniatures game starter set I’ve seen. The barricades, ruined buildings, and even the playing surface are all thick cardboard that is extremely durable. The terrain is modular, assembled with plastic clips that allow for several configurations. The sheer weight and sturdiness is far beyond any other game I’ve played. It functionally serves as a modern update to Games Workshop’s original 1995 Necromunda boxed set with its myriad of cardboard walkways and gantries. This is similarly jaw-dropping in the context of its time and a big selling point of the package.
A minor complaint is the lack of guidance around assembly. The box has a lovely plastic insert, but there’s nothing to indicate the terrain connectors are hidden underneath. The only instructions cluing you in on how to use these pieces is on the side of the box, a detail I overlooked initially. Nor is there explicit direction for constructing the miniatures, although this is easy enough to figure out based on images of the assembled figures. None of this was overly troubling, but it contrasts with the otherwise exceptional attention to detail within this product.
More importantly, the rules system is outstanding. This is a full-blown miniatures game similar to Warhammer 40K and its ilk. You use a ruler to measure movement and everything is freeform, with no grids or spaces to occupy. Combat Zone approaches this style of game with novelty, leaning into its proprietary [RE]ACtion system.
It works like this: each side takes turns performing actions with one of their figures. The strongest of characters–such as the gang’s leader–has higher quality actions. The color-coded quality maps to a die, with the stronger actions rolling green 12-sided dice while weaker options toss eight or even six-siders. Everything is opposed. Shooting is defended by agility or armor; to escape from melee you roll agility versus strength, and so on. Get shot and you’re wounded, degrading the die you used to defend. It’s a clever system, but brutal, sparking interesting decisions about risking your best actions for success in the moment.
This action system is the core of the experience, providing an undulating tension to the conflict that requires careful tactical play. Spent actions cannot be refreshed unless you elect to rest and pass up your turn. You can also interject during your foe’s activation, responding when you are wounded. All of this coalesces into a dynamic system that bucks the more traditional approach of activating all of your figures and then turning over control to your opponent. The flow of play is smooth and excellent, with the tempo remaining consistent and sharp.
There is one oddity, however. A seemingly key feature of the system is that when resting, a player is able to activate all of their Gonks. These nameless characters are the mooks of your gang, cheap to field but weak in power. They only activate when performing this rest action, which looks to create an interesting loop that alters strategic planning.
The problem is, the starter set does not include any Gonks. This is probably due to cost and wanting to keep the price of the starter in a reasonable range. But this lack of a core feature emphasizes that you’re signing on to a larger system that will require more attention and money. Despite not being quite feature complete, play still ebbs wonderfully and the central system still hums along with fluidity and grace. You wouldn’t even know you were missing out if the rulebook didn’t mention it.
On the plus side, the detail is spectacular. Everything you’d expect is here. There is a myriad of weapons and equipment such as assault rifles, sniper rifles, and explosives. Characters possess special abilities and can even grow in strength across a multi-session campaign. Netrunning is present, allowing hackers to select from a suite of programs that function similar to magic in fantasy games like Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. There is a solid amount of options here, with many of the quirkier programs offering great utility in specific scenarios.
Speaking of scenarios, the included set are superb. There are numerous options, with the intention being the scenario cards are shuffled and a random selection occurs prior to play. This dovetails wonderfully with the excellent independent campaign system. This takes inspiration from Games Workshop’s fantasy skirmisher Warcry, in that each gang gains progress on their own. Forces of unequal experience may square off, with the difference resulting in bonus reroll tokens going to the underdog.
The result here is pretty magnificent. It allows you to take your Maelstrom gang that’s fought hard through several scenarios and head up to the shop to find a new foe. Your opponent can be a fresh squad of scum or a seasoned force. Eventually, you max out your advancement and your warband finds closure with a faction specific scenario forming the climax of your campaign. Afterwards, you can start anew with a green team of combatants. This campaign system adheres to the philosophy woven throughout the design, in that it is relatively streamlined and easy to grasp yet boasts enough detail and crunch to allow for satisfying outcomes.
Combat Zone is a fantastic game. It accomplishes dynamic conflict through a pleasurable and unique activation system. The physical product is magnificent, including best-in-class terrain that is fully colored and ready to go straight from the box. This starter set will offer many hours of gameplay and a full campaign, but it will also tease you into wanting more. Fortunately, more is coming as Monster Fight Club promises a full roster of 10 gangs, with many supplementary products for each faction.
The streaming giant has a solid batch of other new anime titles joining the series library in September. Whether you’re in the mood for battle brawlers, Pokemon tournaments, Kaiju, or gladiator combat the anime series library will have something for you.
If you’re in the loop on Netflix Original anime series, then you already know that September belongs to Castlevania: Nocturne Season One. The highly anticipated return revolves around Richter Belmont, Trevor Belmont’s descendant from the late 18th century. New setting, new stakes and what promises to be one hell of an origin story. As soon as it hits the platform on September 28, 2023 expect plenty of conversation about this animated gothic installment of the beloved franchise. And for those who’ve yet to jump on the Castlevania train, don’t worry there’s time to binge the first season and see why its considered one of the best anime-inspired series in the game.
And once you’ve finished the live-action adaptation of One Piece that drops on August 31, 2023 and realize the storyline only covers a smidge of the franchises vast universe, check out our guide to watching One Piece to see where the 2016’s One Piece Film: Gold and five other specials coming to the streamer on September 1, fall on the timeline.
Note: As this is a list of anime series to watch, no anime movies were considered for this feature. This list applies to U.S. Netflix subscribers. Some titles may not currently be available on international platforms (yet). This list will also be periodically amended to remove series no longer available on Netflix, as well as add anime shows now available for streaming on the service.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
Adapted from the manga by Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a colorful satire where finding yourself in the midst of the zombie apocalypse is better than being a wage slave in a dead end job. 24-year old Akira Tendou is worn out after three years of mind-numbing work at a company deadset on wringing every bit of life out of him to meet their corporate demands. What was once his dream job has left him alone and feeling unaccomplished. Until the day he wakes up in the middle of the zombie outbreak and realizes he never has to go to work again. What follows is a hilarious and fantastical adventure jam-packed with life lessons and horrific cautionary tales as Akira decides to work his way through his bucket list with all his sudden free time. If you’re looking for a slice-of-life anime series with a unique manic energy and horror edge then Zom 100 calling your name.
One Piece
One Piece is a long-running shonen anime about Monkey D. Luffy sails with his globetrotting crew of Straw Hat Pirates on their hunt for the treasure One Piece and quest to become the new king of the pirates. Based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga the anime adaptation is full of high action and laughs. With an ensemble made up of an eclectic group of male and female characters, there’s a camaraderie and sense of adventure that keeps the series engaging season after season. This series houses some of the greatest anime characters of all time.
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is an historical drama that takes place on an alternate timeline at the end of the Edo era in feudal Japan. One where Ōoku, the women’s quarters of Edo Castle, now serve as the home for men who work in service to a woman Shogun. A deadly plague, known as redface pox, has decimated the male population. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers follows Tokugawa Iemitsu, the illegitimate daughter of the last Shogun, as she ascends to his seat of power to rule in his stead. As she works to navigate her new role and its attendant duties, she falls in love. But the societal shifts within and beyond the walls of the palace mean her love can’t reign supreme. In the aftermath of the plague, men are held precious and women have taken over many of the positions traditionally held by men. This is so they can focus on reproduction. The most attractive and gifted men are sent to serve the Shogun as concubines in her Inner Chambers. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers explores the contradictions and complexities of women ascending to power in a world shaped by, and for, men.
It also delves into the dynamics of shifted roles behind the secretive walls of the Inner Chamber. There’s political intrigue, backstabbing, moral dilemmas, power struggles and emotional upheaval aplenty. Both men and women struggle to conform with the preexisting social expectations and the demands of hierarchy.
CyberPunk: Edgerunners
Set in the video game world of Night City, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners follows struggling student, David, into the criminal underbelly and world of body modification. David attends a prestigious school his overworked mother can’t really afford. If there’s a socio-economic hierarchy, then they’re at the very bottom. David falls in with a gang of mercenaries — cyberpunks — after meeting a mysterious but netrunner (a hacker) named Lucy and starts taking jobs in the hopes of bettering their circumstances. This ten episode series based on CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk: 2077 and brought to life by Studio Trigger is where exceptional animation and social commentary on greed, capitalism and a desperate need to belong collide exploding an extraordinary adventure.
This sci-fi story peels back the layers of a coming-of-age story to reveal a dystopian landscape that has no right to look this damn gorgeous while weaving a narrative that makes no effort to blunt its bleak and bloody edges. If extremely violent, over the top, and bombastic anime with a heavy 90s edge to both its character design and sense of humor is your jam, then 2022 juggernaut Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is calling your name.
Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune
Based on Carlo Zen’s sci-novel The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune follows a group of five soldiers mired in an intergalactic war. This military sci-fi offers highly detailed character design, action-driven, thematically rich story of youths recruited by the into the inner circle of the Pan-Star System Trade Federation Security Council in order to help in the fight against the Barkans, a race of intelligent mice who have grown tired of the Trade Federation’s presence and resistant to their command. It’s a do-or-die story about expendable soldiers full of battlefield drama entwined with the complicated dynamics of politics of war. It’s a six-episode Orwellian space opera that is absolutely a must-watch if this is your brand of sci-fi.
Vinland Saga
Everyone has their personal favorites when it comes to shonen anime. The field is jam-packed with a myriad of coming of age stories. Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn on his journey of growth and in search of revenge after witnessing the murder of his father at a young (six) age. It’s vividly drawn and exquisitely detailed. Set in the Middle Ages, Vinland is a balancing act between a cautionary tale about the perils of war and rich worldbuilding about growing up amidst rampant warfare. There’s violence, gorge, moral lessons and righteous vengeance. If you’re not watching, then you’re missing out.
Ajin: Demi-Human
Directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, this series follows Kei Nagai, a pre-med student who resurrects after a car accident. He’s Ajin, an immortal demi-human, now on the run from government experiments and searching for other beings like himself. Despite its relatively standard entry point for a seinen anime intent on exploring how humans behave; Ajin perfectly capitalizes on the violence and cat-and-mouse elements of the maga and pairs it with creepy, and atmospheric 3D animation. So, if evading capture, not knowing friend from foe and uncovering secret organizations with agendas of their own is your bag this is the quick-paced, visually rich, thrill ride for you.
Monster
Set in Germany, Monster follows brain surgeon Kenzo Tenma as his complicated work life unravels after he makes the fateful decision to operate on a young boy instead of the mayor. That choice sets in motion a chain of events that see Tenam ostracized, with his career derailed, and him accused of murder. Using a blend of relationship drama, social climbing, and professional betrayals, Monster weaves in heavy moral and ethical dilemmas into the storyline in ways that maximize tension and keep the pace pushing from episode to episode.
By the time the big reveals and twists come, you’ll be fully invested. And if horror is what raises the stakes for you, this adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s 1994 manga definitely leverages unsettling – even horrific – encounters between its main characters to a wicked character study of a serial killer and murder mystery. If you’re looking for an engrossing, complex psychological thriller where a great historical timeline, hefty philosophical themes, compelling characters and a damn good cat-and-mouse game come together into an exceptional series then this globetrotting classic is just what you need.
Vampire in the Garden
In Vampire in the Garden the fate of the world hangs in the balance when a vampire queen and human join forces in an effort to find Paradise. Paradise isn’t just a euphemism for a way to end the warring between the factions, but an action place where the two species lived harmoniously. The double entendre holds true for all of this beautifully drawn five episode fantasy anime series. Despite the story of young Momo and her fateful meeting with vampire queen Fine feeling occasionally rushed (the pitfalls of an extremely limited series) this story of a duo intent on finding a way for humans and vampires to live peacefully once again is a compelling little romance from Wit Studios.
High-Rise Invasion
High-Rise Invasion centers Yuri Honjo. A high schooler who finds herself in a twisted world of interconnected buildings known as “abnormal space.” Pulled into a wicked situation she chooses to fight back against her attackers. This is a blood-soaked dark story full of sadistic figures hellbent on mayhem. It’s got thrills, screams and a slaughterhouse of insanity.
Oni: Thunder God’s Tale
If you like the trend of incorporating new animation techniques, like say a 3D stop-motion hybrid, into anime visual effects, then Oni: Thunder God’s Tale may be just the thing for you. Based on Onari’s Lullaby by Emi Tsutsumi, Oni follows free-spirited Onari on her quest to become like the heroes from (Japanese) folklore. In her quest to unlock her inherent powers, Onari undergoes transformations – that offer lessons on empathy and connection with a light touch.
The pacing is slow, but with 45 minute episodes it covers a lot of ground with fun, action and plenty of emotion pay off to balance the occasional drag. So despite being a fantasy children’s story brought to such life and flair that even the crabbiest of diehards will find themselves rooting for Onair and laughing at the hijinx of the odd-ball gods and monsters she encounters along the way. A warm, family friendly story anchored by the consistently stunning animation is the perfect mini-series palette cleanser.
exception
exception takes a walk on the post-apocalyptic horror side with a story about a mission to terraform a planet that goes horribly awry. To escape AI control, humans have taken to space in search of a new home. The crew of humanoid entities created (from the DNA of living people) in a biological 3D printer called The Womb make up the advance party. Just as they arrive to start the work of making a new habitable planet, a misprint turns one crew member into a monster. Soon their ship becomes a hunting ground.
exception is a visual stunner with a unique way of bringing humor, mayhem and action. The story balances complicated questions about what makes someone human with an action-driven, unsettling sci-fi drama. Directed by Yuzo Sato, exception brings to life an original story by Hirotaka Adachi also known as Otsuichi (Goth: Love of Death) with non-traditional animation and character design that may not be everyone’s cup of tea but its original story and immersive pacing makes this a space horror a do not miss.
Tekken: Bloodline
A surprisingly straightforward adaptation of the Tekken 3 storyline, Tekken: Bloodline follows fifteen-year old Jin Kazama (Kaiji Tang) on his quest to avenge his mother. You don’t have to be a lover of the video game to find this six episode arc worthwhile. It showcases character design and story structure that’s reminiscent of the source’s gameplay but the real lure is in the slow burning reveal of Jin’s family history and his struggle to honor his mother and fight to control his destiny. There’s mystery, intrigue, and just enough fighting to keep things very interesting.
Kotaro Lives Alone
Kotaro Satо̄, a 4-year old boy living on his own, moves next door to Shin Karino, a manga artist. Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Mami Tsumura, Kotaro Lives Alone is the inverse odd couple you didn’t know you were missing in your life. It’s witty, self-aware, and relies on an animation style that only adds to the vibrancy of this adorably engaging ten episode slice of life series.
Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia is an underrated gem in the streamer’s library. This anime series directed by Yoh Yoshinari is a pastel drenched delight. Atsuko Kagari longs to be a world-class witch like her idol. There’s only one problem, she’s got a decidedly non-magical background. But the enthusiastic youth finesses her way into Luna Nova Magical Academy, her fav’s alma mater to train. What follows is a blend of lighthearted and hijinx as she attempts to navigate school. The animation is masterful and the characters joyfully entertaining. It’s a feel good watch with just enough depth to intrigue.
Spriggan
Based on the manga by Hiroshi Takashige and Ryōji Minagawa, Spriggan enters the list after only a six-episode debut jam-packed with action, slick character design, and a premise interesting to overcome an uneven start. Spriggan follows Yu Ominae, a 16-year-old super soldier tasked with finding and securing powerful artifacts.
With various military and private groups vying for control of what they see as potential weapons, Yu must defend against all comers if he hopes to comply with his employer’s mandate to safeguard the artifacts. Sticking close to the source, this anime series capitalizes on open-ended storytelling, charismatic characters, humor, necessary violence, and bombastic action sequences. This globetrotting adventure is all about world-building and setting up for adventures to come but still makes the most of its character arcs to be off to a fantastic start both newcomers and fans of the manga and previous movie.
Eden
The world feels like it’s a bit of a constant dumpster fire. So, it can’t hurt to have a bit of wholesomeness in your end-of-the-world adventure. It’s been a thousand years since humans have been on Earth. AI robots inhabit a city called Eden 3. Their overlords are long gone, but the robots continue to farm the land. Two maintenance robots accidentally wake up a human baby girl from stasis. Her appearance calls into question all their beliefs. The two robots decide to raise the little girl in a safe haven outside the city. Eden has engaging character design brought to life with great voice acting. The story’s simple and sweet. There isn’t much trope subversion but sometimes, sweet is exactly what the post-apocalyptic story needs.
Komi Can’t Communicate
Directed by Ayumu Wantanbe and based on the popular manga series written and illustrated by Tomohito Oda, Komi Can’t Communicate follows Shouko Komi, an extremely popular girl, and socially average Hitohito Tadano. Komi comes off as poised to others at school but in fact suffers from severe social anxiety that makes it difficult for her to interact with others. When Hitohito discover’s beautiful classmate’s secret, he vows to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends at their prestigious prep school.
Komi Can’t Communicate is a stellar example of a slice-of-life anime. It explores touchy themes with a light-hearted, humorous edge. The characters’ personalities are engaging, the various situations they find themselves in at turns ridiculous, humorous or relatively serious but alway relatable. Brought to life with near flawless animation color scheme and impressive character design this series is a well balanced delight. If you’re into slice-of-life anime series, not necessarily into waiting. The full first season Komi Can’t Communicate is now in the anime library.
Death Note
Death Note follows Light Yagami, a teen who comes into possession of a magical notebook that allows him to kill anyone he wants just by writing their name inside. What comes after is a captivating cat-and-mouse game between him and the investigator intent on discovering who’s behind the deaths. This classic from director Tetsurō Araki is an engrossing exploration of morality, justice, loyalty, honor, and friendship. With illustrations and character design that never go out of style, Death Note is an absolute classic. The world seems intent on being a never-ending dumpster fire. So you can never go wrong with a classic anime series that isn’t afraid to dig into the dark side even as it reminds you that life’s direction is always a choice.
High Score Girl
High Score Girl follows Haruo Yaguchi, a sixth grader gamer, as he encounters a true challenger to his supremacy at the local arcades. Classmate Akira Oono who appears to be practically perfect on every level, best his favorite game, Street Fighter 2. From there this unlikely duo bond over vintage video games that allow them to decompress and avoid the anxieties of their everyday lives. Yaguchi slow learns that Oono’s life isn’t as idyllic as it seems and that he has a lot to learn about himself and life. High Score Girl’s full of funny misadventures, sly life lessons, and acts of ego. Sometimes, you need a coming-of-age story with a side of nostalgia and irony. If you’re a gamer, and have a chaotic internal monologue hyping you up, then High Score Girl may be just the ticket.
The Orbital Children
Set in 2045 The Orbital Children, also known as Extra-terrestrial Boys and Girls, follows two children born on the moon and three from Earth. The story takes place in outer space (where internet and artificial intelligence are widespread) on a Japanese commercial space station. A massive accident leaves this group of kids stranded with little hope of rescue. They must rely on their wits, limited communications, and what’s available to try and avert further disaster…and possible death.
Written and directed by Mitsuo Iso (Ghost in the Shell, Rurouni Kenshin and Blade Runner: Black Lotus) this two part science fiction series not only takes anime to space, it stares directly into the distance and asks, are humans necessary? Iso takes direct aim at the ticking clock on Earth’s ability to adequately sustain human life. Then it ponders whether humans are capable of doing what’s necessary to save themselves. Although this philosophical schism should come as no surprise given it is Mitsuo Iso, The Orbital Children blends smooth animation, a striking color palette, relatable character design – that puts its excellent voice cast to great use – turning this into a coming of age story and full blown existential (and literal) crisis that shouldn’t be missed.
Record of Ragnarok
If you’re a fan of The Seven Deadly Sins, list mate JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure or the just idea of the gods giving humanity one last chance to prove itself tournament-style appeals, then get into the twelve episode first season of Record of Ragnarok. The pace is binge-perfect, the animation traditional, and the battles over the top (it’s a race to seven victories out of thirteen rounds). If we must contemplate our own humanity and face the end, let it be watching 13 champions fight their way through the pantheon of gods.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
After a demon attack leaves most of his family slaughtered and his sister turned, Tanjirou Kamado swears to save her and avenge his family. He joins a mysterious group calling themselves the Demon Slayer Corps intent on doing anything to exact revenge. If you’ve finished all the few remaining seasons of Attack on Titan the streamer has in its library but still want your fight scenes crisp then give Demon Slayer a go. You won’t be disappointed.
You’re minding your business, living your life. Then between one thing and the next, the world ends; leaving you behind. What would you do? Those left behind are confronted with giant bugs and flooded cities being reclaimed by nature. What a time to realize you weren’t ready for the apocalypse.
Aggretsuko
December 2021 meant a fourth season for Aggretsuko fans. This slice of life anime is full of subtle lessons about not letting life’s challenges get the best of you. Turns out, ten more episodes following 25 year-old Retsukothe as she deals with the highs and lows of her crap job as a police accountant, lackluster dating life, and life’s frustrations with heavy metal (and her werewolf-esque transformations) as her main outlet surprisingly still isn’t too much of a good thing. The simple art style is a perfect foil for the wry, witty writing and fully-loaded soundtrack. This is one series possibly destined tolist staple as long as it remains in the Netflix library.
Super Crooks
Based on the four-issue comic series by Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu, Super Crooks debuted on the platform in December. This prequel to the comic series follows Johnny Bolt and his band of crooks as they attempt to pull off the ultimate heist. This world of super-powered people offers a slick opening, simple, yet action-packed story full of quips, quirks, interesting characters, and crisp (Studio Bones) visuals. Although it won’t be to everyone’s taste (if redemption arcs and character growth are your bag then you’ll be left wanting), this 13-episode was definitely a 2021 surprise.
B: The Beginning
The vigilante “Killer B”’s turning the island of Cremona into their personal hunting ground. To catch this escalating killer, the Royal Investigation Service calls its ace – if eccentric – detective Keith Flick back into active duty. But the kills aren’t what they seem and Flick will need to unravel dangerous secrets in order to solve these crimes. If you’re in the mood for a cat-and-mouse detective story – with more than a few science fiction twists – then look no further than B: The Beginning. This visually stunning story offers a blend of mystery and horror for fans who like their anime to take ambitious risks (even if it doesn’t always stick the landing).
Code Geass
Sent to Japan as a hostage, Lelouch, a prince of Britannia, escapes after an encounter leaves him with the power to control anyone. Lelouch becomes the masked rebel known as Zero and begins to mercilessly exact vengeance against Britannia. Code Geass is a genre blend with action, charisma, and just the right amount of bombasticness to carry the story from episode to episode. This alternate history full of mechs and magic is a wild ride.
Dorohedoro
Set in a grim world, Dorohedoro is a quixotic and disorderly series about a big crocodile man who loves gyoza. It’s almost equal parts comedy and carnage. It’s a bizarre, gory, sci-fi world full of surprisingly compelling characters. With bold color and a brisk pace, Dorohedoro makes the most of its strange world to confuse and entertain.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Based on the wildly popular manga series, this multigenerational story follows the adventures of a Joestar family member – each with the same titular nickname and endowed with immense psychic strength – as they battle against rivals (and evil) down through the ages. With each new protagonist comes an independent story that expands the universe and keeps the narrative fresh and engaging. It’s sly wit and frequent hattips to popular Western trends add just the right amount of hilarity to this adventure-driven fantasy. With five quality seasons (Stone Ocean being the latest installment) now available on Netflix as of December 1st, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s addition to the best of list may just be a bit overdue.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop’s set in a world where a hyperspace gateway accident’s left Earth inhabitable. What remains of humanity colonized the rocky planets and moons in the solar system. Fifty years of rising crime prompts the Inter Solar System Police to legal bounty hunting and authorized hunters, known as Cowboys, to track and capture criminals across the system in order to bring them to justice. The series follows the crew of spacecraft Bebop as they hunt down criminals in 2071. This Japanese sci-fi noir and it’s now iconic soundtrack and vintage (but still solidly stylish) animation style offers up the space (mis)adventures of former syndicate member and hitman Spike, his former ISSP officer partner Jet Black along with a con artist with memory gaps, a wacky hacker and Ein a too-cute- for its own good genetically engineered Welsh Corgi with human-like intelligence.
The twenty-six episode series offers a genre-blending narrative, visually kinetic action, and audacious good fun for long-time fans and is a great place to start for those new to the anime space. Only time will tell if dropping the entire anime run just ahead of the live-action Cowboy Bebop November 19, 2021 premiere helped or hurt the movie franchise. Be sure to check out how IGN thinks film adaptation stacks up against the source material.
Beastars
If you prefer your shounen occasionally NSFW and built on a narrative designed to explore themes like prejudice, choice, introspection then Beastars may be the slice of life fantasy series for you. This drama-heavy mystery series digs into the lives of anthropomorphic animals; where carnivores and herbivores are trying to coexist peacefully. If Zootopia-eques that dig into slice-of-life stories and self-discovery are what grab and hold your interest then Beastars is definitely an anime series for you.
Violet Evergarden
Based on a light novel series this thirteen episode show brings to life a story of post-war reintegration into civilian life through the lens of fourteen-year-old Violet Evergarden. This fantasy coming-of-age story tells the tale of the young orphan’s attempt to find purpose beyond soldiering. It’s an introspective and touching narrative with a phenomenal score. This series is why phrases like “visually stunning” won’t soon go out of use. It is simply one of the most beautifully animated series around.
Now’s an excellent time to revisit this show then pick up with Violet Evergarden: The Movie added to the streamer on October 13, 2021.
Erased
Follow 29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma as he discovers an ability to time travel and ends up in the past trying to solve a murder mystery. This powerful ability he calls “Revival” permits him to jump back to the recent past (a few minutes) to change events and save lives. But after being accused of a murder himself, however, Satoru wakes up, as his younger self, eighteen years in the past. Soon realizing the crime he’s accused of is connected to an abduction and death of a classmate, Sartoru strikes out to unravel the mystery, prevent his classmate’s death, and ultimately clear his (future) name. Erased is a gripping adaptation of Kei Sanbe’s full manga run. The story is dynamic and brought to life through gritty and immersive animation. Set aside time, because it’s a binge-worthy series.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
All-powerful psychic Kusuo Saiki attempts to fly under the radar are continually thwarted and result in a high comedy. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. follows Saiki as he tries to navigate school drama free despite his magnetic ability to attract people. It’s quirky, full of lovable characters, and hijinks. Despite its lighter tone, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. offers a quality crowd-pleasing story.
Great Pretender
Makoto Edamura’s a con man on the run. But don’t think that’ll stop him from falling head-first into new schemes instead of laying low. The Great Pretender is colorful, quick-step, offering all the elements of a perfectly designed heist film. If you like your anime stylish and your character’s too-slick for words, then this Netflix exclusive is tailor-made for you.
New Anime Series on Netflix
The revamped anime series Bakgan arrives with a 26 episode season one on September 1, 2023. Part 4 of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series arrives September 8, 2023 bringing 15 new episodes and the end of Ash’s (and Pikachu’s) journey to become a Pokémon Master. A new generation of kaiju are coming to the platform in Netflix Original’s anime series Gamera Rebirth’s first season. That’s right the fire-breathing, flying turtle behemoth is back in a six episode series on September 7th. The long-awaited web anime Kengan Ashura returns with new episodes (24) in its second season and part three of the storyline on September 21, 2023. Fan-favorite Castlevania adds to its franchise with season one of Castlevania: Nocturne which begins streaming September 28, 2023.
How We Choose the Best Anime Series on Netflix
The goal is to have a list of great anime series that span many subgenres. We’ve included a mix of popular classics like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, along with relatively more obscure titles like The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Whether you’re a complete anime newbie or a hardcore otaku, there’s something for everyone here.
It’s no secret that Ubisoft’s seafaring pirate game, Skull & Bones, which was first revealed way back in 2017, has endured a troubled development. Originally conceived as an expansion to Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, then an MMO spinoff, and finally an independent project that’s suffered numerous delays, it’s understandable for players to be concerned about the upcoming action game where naval warfare and piracy are placed front and center. But after numerous hours sunk into the recent closed beta, I’m happy to report that I came away from the experience much more confident that we’ll be getting a worthy successor to Black Flag’s awesome buccaneering ways. With a much more interesting story than I was expecting, some really appetizing RPG systems in place, and smooth and entertaining naval combat, Skull & Bones is looking pretty darn fun as it prepares to finally set sail at long last.
Following up on the success of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag from way back in 2013, Skull & Bones is an open-world tactical action game where you play as a pirate captain set loose on the high seas during the golden age of piracy and unfettered capitalism. After suffering defeat at the hands of some water narcs and finding myself washed ashore, my journey of notoriety started from humble beginnings aboard a piece of glorified driftwood, all the way to a massive ship with enough cannons to fight off an army. The story placed me in the Indian Ocean, where I joined the crew of pirate legend John Spurlock and began running jobs in my pursuit of wealth and power. I’ll admit that I expected very little from the story, but was pleasantly surprised by the memorable cast of characters and extensive dialogue in between action-packed stretches of robbery and oceanic misdeeds.
Much more interesting, though, were the shockingly deep RPG progression systems, which included survival game elements that had me collecting raw materials to build my ships and an extensive loadout system where I could customize every aspect of my vessel from function to cosmetics – including designating my very own lemur co-captain to the ship, which is obviously the most important part. Unlocking new schematics to build more powerful ships, different varieties of cannon, and other game-changing add-ons and accessories became an absolute obsession, and I poured all the silver and ill-gotten booty I could into turning my ship into the ultimate tool of destruction. There’s a dizzying amount of unlockables and configuration that goes into each vessel, and I could see myself easily losing many more hours optimizing my tools of the trade.
Beyond that, I also spent a fair bit of time and silver on my pirate captain’s appearance, and while the starting options during the beta weren’t terribly extensive, years of playing Sea of Thieves has taught me the importance of striking fear into the hearts of my enemies by looking as intimidating as possible.
“Of course, the crown jewel of Skull & Bones is in its naval combat”
Of course, the crown jewel of Skull & Bones is in its naval combat, and like Black Flag before it, this game seems to absolutely nail that element, even in this early beta phase. Because I had to place different weapons on different sides of my ship, mobility was key to winning the day, as I could fire from one end of the ship, then rotate to unload a different cannon while the first one was being reloaded by my crew. Watching a ship sink down to Davy Jones in a massive, fiery explosion is a sight to behold, and jumping aboard a weakened enemy ship awarded some much-appreciated extra loot. I also enjoyed just how brutally difficult my adventures on the high sea could be, with different areas locked at different difficulties, meaning a voyage too far into uncharted waters could leave me pursued by a ship far beyond my capabilities…or stuck in a thunderstorm that could spell my imminent demise.
This formula was especially exciting when played among friends, and having up to two of my most trusted despoilers join me in a bit of piracy made for some wonderful added chaos. My favorite activity was “Plundering,” where my friends and I attacked a settlement from the coastline, then held off waves of increasingly challenging enemy ships as we accumulated loot. I’m not surprised that Skull & Bones seems like it’s going to pull off ship-to-ship combat so well given its Black Flag origins, but I’m definitely surprised that it seems like it might actually blow it out of the water with interesting activities and a much-needed co-op component.
After a good chunk of time climbing the ranks of notoriety in Skull & Bones’ beta, I’m more excited to dive into the full experience than I was even way back when it was announced at E3 all those years ago. Here’s hoping it’ll make it safely to shore in the coming months.
Over the course of our month long coverage of Lords of the Fallen, we’ve dived deep into the Umbral/Axiom dual realm mechanic, went over some vital combat tips, and talked about the ways in which the developers at Hexworks are aiming to innovate upon the standard Soulslike formula. But one important element that we’ve only briefly touched upon has been the magic system of the game. And so, let’s correct that oversight and breakdown how magic works in Lords of the Fallen.
Three Schools of Magic
In this new Lords of the Fallen, there are three schools of magic, each tied to one of the three warring Gods at the heart of the story. There’s Rhogar, which is the magic of the god of Chaos Adyr; Radiant, the holy magic of the god Orius; and Umbral, the magic of the goddess that rules the Umbral realm. Each school of magic has their own unique type of catalyst that you’ll need to equip in order to wield it, but you’re free to specialize in whichever you want. Of course, that choice largely will come down to your own stats and what kind of build you’re aiming for.
There are two core magic stats when it comes to magic scaling. Infernal is what players will want to sink points into if they want to specialize in Rhogar pyromancy, and Radiance is the stat for Radiant magic. Interestingly, Umbral magic actually scales with both of them, so you’ll have to make that choice of whether you want to go full Pyromancy, full Radiance, or double dip into both so that you can go big on Umbral magic.
As for the spells themselves, as you might imagine, Rhogar spells focus on big explosive damage, with basic fireballs that deal big AOE damage, damage over time flame throwers, a hail of meteors, and even a summon that causes fire dogs to fight for you.
Radiance spells are more focused on buffs and heals for the most part, but they still have plenty of ways to deal damage as well. You’ve got a lightning bolt projectile, a short lived lightning lance laser beam style spell, and a lightning orb spell among others.
Every spell that you see an enemy use against you, you can learn a variation of for yourself.
And finally Umbral spells seem to be far slower moving, but still pack quite a bunch once they find their way to their target. We’ve seen an ability that coats your weapon with umbral power, a spell that calls up a series of bombs that explode a short distance away from the caster, and a timed bomb that moves a short distance and then explodes for massive damage.
This is just a small handful of the spells that players can expect to wield in Lords of the Fallen. The developers assured me that the list of spells is extensive, and in fact, every spell that you see an enemy use against you, you can learn a variation of for yourself. And we’ll come back around to that shortly.
Balancing Spellcasting
One of the challenges of implementing magic systems in a soulslike is that it’s hard to find that sweet spot of making magic feel strong and satisfying, without making it feel overpowered. If you make it too weak on the other hand, then you run into the opposite problem of making it hard to justify the sacrifices that a player must make with their stat allocation in order to properly utilize magic.
To that end, the developers of Hexworks have balanced magic to be strong, but also have enemies that have natural resistances to the elements. At the beginning of the game, for instance, you’ll run into a bunch of enemies that are resistant to Rhogar spells, making it a tough early going for anyone who tries to go heavy on pyromancy, but once you’re able to get through that section, you’ll have a much smoother time until you start running into those fire resistant enemies again. On the flipside of that, there are also areas where Radiant magic will be strong and weak. Essentially, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to magic, and there are occasions where you may find yourself having to change up your strategy to deal with certain enemies in various regions of Lords of the Fallen’s world.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to magic.
Beyond those three main schools of magic, there are also secondary types of magic, such as frost, poison, and so on, which you’ll generally be able to utilize by finding specific items that can be thrown or applied to your weapon, and each of those will also be strong or weak against specific enemies as well, so there’s a lot of room for experimentation when it comes to finding the right type of magic to deal with enemies within a region.
Acquiring New Spells
With so many spells to learn, it begs the question, how do you obtain them? Of course, there’s the tried and true method of simply finding them by exploring the world, opening chests, and finding shinies out in the wild. But what was interesting to me was that there’s also a Castevania: Dawn of Sorrow-like system as well. Killing certain enemies also gives a percent chance that you’ll be able to loot *their* particular spell, because as I said before, every spell you see is a spell you can learn.
In addition to that, bosses will have remnants to discover after you’ve defeated them, and if you Soul Flay that, you’ll be able to take that to an NPC back in your hub, who will be able to transform it into either some sort of reward. Sometimes that’s a unique weapon, and sometimes, it’ll be a powerful spell that the boss uses.
And that’s currently everything there is to know about magic in Lords of the Fallen. Everything else you’re going to have to learn for yourself when Lords of the Fallen releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on October 13, 2023.
Mitchell Saltzman is an editorial producer at IGN. You can find him on twitter @JurassicRabbit
